The Take
By Jacob Grodnik
The TakeNov 06, 2018
Steven Luke
An authentic jack of all trades, Steven Luke has mastered it all. Having spent the duration of his career exploring cinema as a writer, director, actor and producer, he has crafted a niche style of filmmaking within the war film genre. Imagine the challenge of capturing a compelling and striking war piece with budget restrictions and a need for innovative creativity; Steven has orchestrated a process that continues to amaze. In his feature, War Pigs, Steven finds himself acting alongside cinematic veterans, Mickey Rourke, Dolph Lundgren and Luke Goss. His most recent feature, The Great War, starring Ron Perlman and Billy Zane, is one in which Steven flexed all of his filmmaking talents behind the screen, as writer, director, and producer. Be sure to check out his work on Amazon Prime and most other streaming services.
Marc Buckland
My Name is Earl, Ed, Sports Night, Scrubs, Santa Clarita Diet. We've all heard of them. This is just a handful of the shows on an extensive roster that Emmy award winning Director/Producer, Marc Buckland, has built over his career. Marc has an invaluable advantage, having broken into the TV industry as a director and producer, filling every role in between. After directing and producing his own short film, he captured the attention of a producer on the TV show, Murder One, where he got his first shot at TV directing. In my conversation with Marc, he invites us into his process and reveals how he taught himself the craft by studying movies and TV shows on repeat, remote in one hand hand, note pad in the other. Marc’s toolbox is packed with keys to success; his journey has led him from the VHS aisles of a movie store, directly onto the screen. Having spent part of his career as an actor, he knows the language of filmmaking from every vantage point. But the most valuable tip for success Marc shares is that it pays to be generous and personable.
Stan Spry
An unstoppable force of filmdom by day, a vigilante of the Sunset Strip by night, Stan Spry has made an undeniable name for himself in the heart of Hollywood. As founding member of the Cartel, a feature film and television production and management company, Stan Spry is no less than a mastermind behind a successful film and media empire. In 2018 alone, Stan produced over 20 feature films, and promises to infiltrate the industry with far more projects in 2019. Stan and the Cartel are at the helm of the reboot of the 1982 phenomenon, Creepshow, written by Stephen King. Stan is a harrowing inspiration to anyone looking to make their way onto the screens of LA. Beginning his journey to the City of Angels with no connections, Stan pioneered his way to the top through persistence and networking. Stan is also a mogul of the Sunset Strip, as part owner of Rock and Reily’s Whiskey and Pearl’s Liquor Bar. Keep your eyes peeled; Stan Spry and his band of filmmakers aren’t going anywhere.
Sean King & Ray Starmann
Sean King and Ray Starmann are a writing team based out of Los Angeles and the owners of Sheer Bravado Productions. They previously wrote the film, Generation Gap which holds the award for the highest rated movie on the Hallmark channel for the month of October. They are currently in pre-production for a World War 2 film titled, Citizen Soldiers which has Dale Dye attached. Citizen Soldiers is in the spirit of Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers. It is a small, human story set in the largest battle the U.S. Army has ever fought, The Battle of The Bulge in 1944.